Method for Performing Authenticated Access to a Service on Behalf of a User

1. A method for performing authenticated access to a service on behalf of a user comprising the steps of: authenticating the user by an instant messaging network; designating a message processor screen-name to a message processor, the screen-name being unique on the instant messaging network; receiving at the message processor through the instant messaging network a message from the user who is logged on to the instant messaging network using, and a user screen-name uniquely associated with the user; sending a query from the message processor to the service said query comprising the user screen-name; wherein the user screen-name is the sole authentication information associated with the user that is sent from the instant message processor to the service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the query also comprises a request at least partially derived from the message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service is a sibling service to the instant messaging network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the sibling service is a calendar service, a remote file storage service, a stock portfolio service, a headline news service, an address book service, an e-mail service, a voice mail service or a photo sharing service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the service is an automated customer service system of an organization and the user is a customer of the organization.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the organization is a financial services institution that the user has an account with.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the financial services institution is a bank.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user accesses his/her bank account and sends instructions to the bank regarding his/her bank account.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the financial services institution is an investment institution.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the user accesses his/her investment account and sends instructions to the investment institution regarding his/her investment account.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the organization is a telephone service provider, internet service provider or a retailer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is written in natural language.

13. A system for performing an authenticated access to a service by a user, comprising: an instant messaging network configured to require authentication and provide a unique user screen-name associated with the user; a message processor connected to the instant messaging network and the service, said service requiring authenticated access; wherein the message processor receives a message and the user screen-name from the user, and sends a request that includes the user screen-name to the service, wherein the user screen-name is the sole authentication information associated with the user that is sent from the message processor to the service.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the query also comprises a request at least partially derived from the message.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the service is a sibling service to the instant messaging network.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the sibling service is a calendar service, a remote file storage service, a stock portfolio service, a headline news service, an address book service, an e-mail service, a voice mail service or a photo sharing service.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the service is an automated customer service system of an organization and the user is a customer of the organization.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the organization is a financial services institution that the user has an account with.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the financial services institution is a bank.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the user accesses his/her bank account and sends instructions to the bank regarding his/her bank account.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the financial services institution is an investment institution.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the user accesses his/her investment account and send instructions to the investment institution regarding his/her investment account.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the organization is a telephone service provider, internet service provider or a retailer.

24. The system of claim 13 wherein the message is written in natural language.